Green Cities of Europe : Global Lessons on Green Urbanism

In the absence of federal leadership, states and localities are stepping forward to address critical problems like climate change, urban sprawl, and polluted water and air. Making a city fundamentally sustainable is a daunting task, but fortunately, there are dynamic, innovative models outside U.S. borders. Green Cities of Europe draws on the world's best examples of sustainability to show how other cities can become greener and more livable. Timothy Beatley has brought together leading experts from Paris, Freiburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Heidelberg, Venice, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and London to illustrate groundbreaking practices in sustainable urban planning and design. These cities are developing strong urban cores, building pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and improving public transit. They are incorporating ecological design and planning concepts, from solar energy to natural drainage and community gardens. And they are changing the way government works, instituting municipal'green audits'and reforming economic incentives to encourage sustainability. Whatever their specific tactics, these communities prove that a holistic approach is needed to solve environmental problems and make cities sustainable. Beatley and these esteemed contributors offer vital lessons to the domestic planning community about not only what European cities are doing to achieve that vision, but precisely how they are doing it. The result is an indispensible guide to greening American cities. In The Absence Of Federal Leadership, States And Localities Are Stepping Forward To Address Critical Problems Like Climate Change, Urban Sprawl, And Polluted Water And Air. Making A City Fundamentally Sustainable Is A Daunting Task, But Fortunately, There Are Dynamic, Innovative Models Outside U.s. Borders. Green Cities Of Europe Draws On The World's Best Examples Of Sustainability To Show How Other Cities Can Become Greener And More Livable. Timothy Beatley Has Brought Together Leading Experts From Paris, Freiburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Heidelberg, Venice, Vitoria-gasteiz, And London To Illustrate Groundbreaking Practices In Sustainable Urban Planning And Design. These Cities Are Developing Strong Urban Cores, Building Pedestrian And Bicycle Infrastructure, And Improving Public Transit. They Are Incorporating Ecological Design And Planning Concepts, From Solar Energy To Natural Drainage And Community Gardens. And They Are Changing The Way Government Works, Instituting Municipal Green Audits And Reforming Economic Incentives To Encourage Sustainability. Whatever Their Specific Tactics, These Communities Prove That A Holistic Approach Is Needed To Solve Environmental Problems And Make Cities Sustainable. Beatley And These Esteemed Contributors Offer Vital Lessons To The Domestic Planning Community About Not Only What European Cities Are Doing To Achieve That Vision, But Precisely How They Are Doing It. The Result Is An Indispensable Guide To Greening American Cities. 1. Introduction: Why Study European Cities?; T. Beatley -- 2. Paris, France: A 21st-century Eco-city; L. Laurian -- 3. Freiburg, Germany: Germany’s Eco-capital; D. Medearis, W. Daseking -- 4. Copenhagen, Denmark: Green City Amid The Finger Metropolis; M. Brüel -- 5. Helsinki, Finland: Greenness And Urban Form; M. Jaakkola -- 6. Venice, Italy: Balancing Antiquity And Sustainability; M. Moretti -- 7. Vitoria-gasteiz, Spain: From Urban Greenbelt To Regional Green Infrastructure; L. Andrés Orive, R. Dios Lema -- 8. London, England: A Global And Sustainable Capital City; C. Ween -- 9. Conclusion: Green Cities Of Europe As Compelling Models; T. Beatley -- Contributors -- Index. Edited By Timothy Beatley. In the absence of federal leadership, states and localities are stepping forward to address critical problems like climate change, urban sprawl, and polluted water and air. Making a city fundamentally sustainable is a daunting task, but fortunately, there are dynamic, innovative models outside U.S. borders. Green Cities of Europe draws on the world's best examples of sustainability to show how other cities can become greener and more livable. Timothy Beatley has brought together leading experts from Paris, Freiburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Heidelberg, Venice, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and London to illustrate groundbreaking practices in sustainable urban planning and design. These cities are developing strong urban cores, building pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and improving public transit. They are incorporating ecological design and planning concepts, from solar energy to natural drainage and community gardens. And they are changing the way government works, instituting municipal "green audits" and reforming economic incentives to encourage sustainability. Whatever their specific tactics, these communities prove that a holistic approach is needed to solve environmental problems and make cities sustainable. Beatley and these esteemed contributors offer vital lessons to the domestic planning community about not only what European cities are doing to achieve that vision, but precisely how they are doing it. The result is an indispensable guide to greening American cities. Contributors include: Lucie Laurian (Paris) Dale Medearis and Wulf Daseking (Freiburg) Michaela Brüel (Copenhagen) Maria Jaakkola (Helsinki) Marta Moretti (Venice) Luis Andrés Orive and Rebeca Dios Lema (Vitoria-Gasteiz) Camilla Ween (London) Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Why Study European Cities?....Pages 1-28 Paris, France: A 21st-Century Eco-City....Pages 29-64 Freiburg, Germany: Germany’s Eco-Capital....Pages 65-82 Copenhagen, Denmark: Green City amid the Finger Metropolis....Pages 83-108 Helsinki, Finland: Greenness and Urban Form....Pages 109-128 Venice, Italy: Balancing Antiquity and Sustainability....Pages 129-154 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain: From Urban Greenbelt to Regional Green Infrastructure....Pages 155-180 London, England: A Global and Sustainable Capital City....Pages 181-214 Conclusion: Green Cities of Europe as Compelling Models....Pages 215-224 Back Matter....Pages 225-234 In the absence of federal leadership, states and localities are stepping forward to address critical problems like climate change, urban sprawl, and polluted water and air. Fortunately, they have dynamic, innovative models outside U.S. borders. Green Cities of Europe draws on the world's best examples of sustainability to show how other cities can become greener and more livable. Timothy Beatley has brought together leading experts from Paris, Freiburg, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Venice, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and London to illustrate groundbreaking practices in urban planning. These cities are creating g